Hi, Nanny,

    Some ppl.,on not having good results after the first epidural, wanna
quit and it is only after having had 3 different epidurals on 3 separate
occasions can you know if it'll work for you or not.

     You seem to be a lucky one! And to have a talented doc, as well. Clone
him, wouldja? Thanks!

Congrats Hugs from Rosie

yeahhhhhhh!  you got an excellent doc with fine technical skills!  doesn't
sound too terribly different, except for the moving table, when my table
stayed still with the machine moving.  and what the nurse told you about
staying active.  that was just the opposite of what my doc told me.  but
hey, maybe your doc used one of the techniques that weren't explained to me,
cuz he didn't use them on me.  who knows?  all i know, gloria, is that i
hope it does wonders for you, giving you total pain relief!  i'm glad you
went for it, kid.

kate

Rosie, I am not sure what you meant when you said I needed 3 injections,
instead of 1, for the fuller effect.  Did you mean at the same time, or in
several sessions?  Kate, my experience was a little different than what you
wrote, but let me share what I experienced at the hospital today.

I was lying face down on a table the whole time.  My head was cushioned on a
pillow, and there was another pillow under my stomach, and one under my
ankles, so I would be more comfortable.  The table would move into a
"compartment", similar to a catscan or MRI.  As it moved in and out
(sporadically) the nurse would find a position which was "on target" for the
doctor to administer the injections.  The whole time I had to lie perfectly
still.

Then, the doctor arrived.  I never did see his face, but he seemed very kind
and would tell me step by step what he was doing, and he would pat my arm
and hand from time to time.  Fortunately he talked loud enough so I could
hear him with my 2 hearing aids.  I was fully dressed - didn't even have to
put on a gown.  I thought that was rather strange, but there you have it.
The doctor introduced himself and than applied 3 different topical
disinfectants (?), or maybe the same one, but 3 different swipes with it.
Then, he started injecting me with something to numb the area.  I never had
a valium cocktail, Kate, but he did a terrific job of numbing.  He put the
first needle in and said, "here goes the first mosquito bite", then the 2nd
needle, saying, "this will go a little deeper", then with the 3rd needle, he
said, "and this one will go even deeper".  Then, he told me that he was
ready to administer the steroid and antiseptic combination right into the
joint where the large bone spurs are.  (4th and 5th lumbar areas), or
whatever you call it.  In went the final needle, and it wasn't any more
painful than the TP injections my Rheumy has given me.  That's why I say he
did an excellent job of numbing!

The nurse told me to stay rather active, so the injected medicines can move
around the body a little, not to just sit down and do nothing.  He (the
nurse) said some patients see results in 3-4 hours, but others can't feel a
difference until 72 hours (3 days).  I have a feeling I will be the latter
;-)  I'm suffering no bad consequences and am able to sit here and type you
this report.  Nanny

Nanny,

I sure hope these injections do the trick for you. Sending healing thoughts
your way.